Office of Epidemiology and Research, Division of Research
Advancing Applied MCH Research
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Frequently Asked QuestionsMCH Research Networks
The Office of Epidemiology and Research, Division of Research supports Research Networks that focus on collaborative, multisite research and dissemination of information:
Adolescent and Young Adult Health Research Network (AYAH-RN)
The health risk behaviors that contribute to disorders and accidental death in adolescence and young adulthood are interrelated and preventable. Due to increased brain plasticity, this stage of life provides an opportune time to establish healthy behavior patterns and prevent unhealthy ones. The purpose of this network is to support the creation of an interdisciplinary, multisite research network that will accelerate the translation of developmental neuroscience into practice, promote scientific collaboration, and develop additional research capacity in the field of adolescent health. Funding began in 2014.
MCHB grant # UA6MC27378. MCH Adolescent and Young Adult Health Research Network
The Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health (AIR-B)
The purpose of the Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health (AIR-B) is to establish and maintain a network infrastructure from which to conduct research on evidence-based interventions to improve the behavioral, mental, social, and/or cognitive health and well-being of children and adolescents with ASD and other developmental disabilities. Funding for the AIR-B network began in 2008.
MCHB grant # UA3MC11055 Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health (AIR-B).
Please visit the AIR-B website for more information. 
Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P)
The purpose of the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) is to establish and maintain a network infrastructure from which to conduct research on evidence-based practices for interventions to improve the physical health and wellbeing of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities. Funding for the AIR-P network began in 2008. Key efforts of the AIR-P Network include research activities, tool and guideline development, mentoring of new investigators, and quality improvement work related to children and youth with ASD and other developmental disabilities.
MCHB grant # UA3MC11054 Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health (AIR-P).
Please visit the AIR-P website for more information.
Bridging the Word Gap Research Network (BWG)
For more than 30 years, researchers have known that low-income children often enter school at a serious disadvantage because they have not had the opportunity to experience home and school environments that encourage their language development. In this video, Dr. Judith Carta, Director of the Bridging the Word Gap Research Network (BWGRN) describes some of the major activities that the BWGRN has carried out to identify effective strategies that parents, caregivers, and communities can employ to create stronger early language learning environments. These include: (1) carrying out a national survey to identify the top 10 actionable BWG research priorities, (2) synthesizing the available research literature to identify what is known about effective language-promoting strategies and what gaps need to be addressed; (3) establishing a Practice-Based Research Collaborative of 12 researcher-program partnerships to develop new community-based interventions, and (4) establishing a program for mentoring emerging scholars. The ultimate goal is that these varied activities will make a “meaningful difference” in the language development of young children in poverty, ultimately promoting their readiness for school.
MCHB grant # UA6MC27762 Bridging the Word Gap Research Network
Please visit the BWG website for more information.
Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Research Network (CYSHCNet)
Children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) deserve a better health care system. The purpose of the Children with Special Health Care Needs Research Network (CYSHCNet) is to (1) create a national, family-engaged CYSHCN research network through integration and alignment of CYSHCN experts; development and sharing of valuable Network assets; and vesting authority in CYSHCN & families at all levels; (2) advance knowledge of optimal health systems for CYSHCN, by establishing a national research agenda to catalyze investigation; conducting multi-site health systems research on CYSHCN; disseminating findings to inspire health system improvements; and sustaining and scaling research activities with external funding; and (3) train emerging CYSHCN investigators. The network will extend and refine evidence utilized to establish the National Standards for Systems of Care for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs in 2014.
MCHB Grant #UA6MC31101 Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Research Network (CYSHCNet).
Please visit the CYSHCNet website for more information.
Confederated Pediatric Electronic Health Record Research Network (CPEHRRN)
The purpose of this project is to conduct cutting-edge pharmacoepidemiological studies using electronic health records (EHRs) from approximately 800,000 U.S. children. This five-year study will use EHR-based practice systems and other electronic data to conduct observational comparative effectiveness research (CER) on the long-term side effects of pharmaceutical treatments in children, including atypical antipsychotic medications, psychotropic medication polypharmacy, and asthma medications. This project will also investigate the prevalence and management of pediatric hypertension and will launch a trial of EHR-based clinical decision support in the management of elevated blood pressure. Dubbed “CER2” – which stands for “Comparative Effectiveness Research through Collaborative Electronic Reporting” – this confederated EHR network builds on the ePROS subnetwork and involves pooling data from patient populations from four other networks and working closely with noted EHR research collaborators based at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Boston University, MetroHealth/Case Western Reserve University, and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). This project is funded in partnership with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development.
MCHB grant # R40MC24943 Primary Care Drug Therapeutics CER in a Pediatric EHR Network.
Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Research Network (DBPNet)
The purpose of the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Research Network (DBPNet) is to establish a multi-center scientific and clinical research network that will address health issues for children with the most significant developmental disorders, including children with autism spectrum disorder and other related developmental disabilities. The goals of the network are to: (1) provide an infrastructure to support rapid scientific discovery; (2) conduct ongoing, interactive, and collaborative activities among network members; (3) identify cutting edge research projects and leverage network capacity to compete for grant opportunities from other federal agencies or private foundations; (4) foster research and mentorship opportunities for new investigators; and (5) enrich the field with peer reviewed publications. Funding for the DBPNet began in 2010.
MCHB grant # UA3MC20218 Creating the Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Research Network.
Please visit the DBPNet website for more information.
Health Care Transitions Research Network for Youth and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (HCT-RN)
Youth on the autism spectrum are susceptible during the transition from youth to adulthood to many issues including co-occurring physical and mental health disorders. The purpose of the HCT-RN is to support the creation of an interdisciplinary, multi-center research forum for scientific collaboration and infrastructure-building, with a focus on research designed to improve health care transitions and promote an optimal transition to adulthood among youth and young adults with ASD. Funding began in 2014.
MCHB grant # UA3MC27364. MCH Health Care Transitions Research Network for Youth and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Please visit the HCT-RN website for more information.
Maternal, Infant, Early Childhood Home Visiting Research Network (HVRN)
The Home Visiting Research Network (HVRN) aims to strengthen the role of home visiting as part of a comprehensive system of services targeted to high-risk expectant families and families with young children. It seeks to accomplish this goal through: (1) establishing a national agenda for home visiting research; (2) creating a national practice-based home visiting research network; (3) promoting the use of innovative methods in home visiting research; (4) advancing the use of administrative data in home visiting research; (5) preparing the next generation of home visiting researchers; and (6) disseminating information on its research findings for researchers, professionals, policy makers, and the public. The Home Visiting Research Network is part of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, which is authorized through Title V of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.
MCHB grant # UD5MC24070 Maternal, Infant, Early Childhood Home Visiting Research Network.
Please visit the HVRN website for more information.
Maternal and Child Health Life Course Research Network (MCH LCRN)
The Maternal and Child Health Life Course Research Network advances public health research on the epidemiology, social determinants, origins, and impacts of health disparities from a life course perspective. Funding for the LCRN began in 2010.
MCHB grant # UA6MC19803 Maternal and Child Health Life Course Research Network (MCH LCRN).
Please visit the MCH LCRN website for more information.
Maternal and Child Health Measurement Research Network (MRN)
The Maternal and Child Health Measurement Research Network will provide leadership in the development and validation of MCH health measures to better address the needs of researchers and programs serving MCH populations. This Network will identify gaps and priority areas and create a dynamic electronic compendium of health measures to advance MCH research.
MCHB grant # UA6MC 26253 Maternal and Child Health Measurement Research Network (MRN).
Pregnancy Related Care Research Network (PRCRN)
The MCH Research Network on Pregnancy Related Care (also known as the CARN Network) of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), conducts multi-site research on critical issues affecting pregnancy-related care and maternal health across the lifespan and administers survey studies to inform and evaluate the College's efforts to provide guidance on clinical practice to its Fellows. The CARN project serves the need to track obstetrician-gynecologists' knowledge and clinical practice on a wide range of clinical issues, and to compare existing practice with that supported by evidence-based guidelines. In addition, select doctoral students acquire data analytic skills through a research fellowship arrangement. The Office of Epidemiology and Research, Division of Research has supported the CARN Network since 1990.
MCHB grant # AU6MC31609 Maternal and Child Health Research Network on Pregnancy-related Care: The Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network (CARN)
Please visit the CARN website for more information.
MCH Research Network on Promoting Healthy Weight (HW-RN)
MCH Research Network on Promoting Healthy Weight (HW-RN) is an interdisciplinary research network aimed at improving our understanding of factors contributing to the possible increased risk of overweight and obesity among children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other special health care needs. This network will develop a research agenda, conduct research using existing datasets and/or health records and disseminate research findings to increase prevention efforts, improve health care delivery services, and improve the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents with ASD and other special health care needs. The MCH HW-RN will also identify surveillance opportunities, and develop approaches to test the initial efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of an intervention program designed to reduce excessive weight among children and youth with ASD and other special health care needs.
MCHB grant # UA3MC25735 Healthy Weight Research Network (HW-RN) for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities (ASD/DD).
Please visit the HW-RN website for more information.
Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN)
Supported and administered by the MCHB Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program.
Please visit the PECARN website for more information.
Pediatric Research in Office Settings (ePROS) Networks
The Pediatric Primary Care Electronic Health Record (EHR) Network for Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) is known as “ePROS.” This multi-million dollar research network was created to address critical child health issues and generate new knowledge to improve pediatric practice. ePROS is developing innovative methods to extract and standardize selected data from practices with diverse EHR vendors and systems. The network will create the capacity to offer point-of-care clinical decision support and perform a CER study on the pharmacologic treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in pediatric primary care sites nationwide through the use of certified EHR data. First funded in 2010 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, ePROS is a subnetwork of the Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS) network.
MCHB grant # UB5MC20286 Pediatric Primary Care Electronic Health Record (EHR) Network for Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER).
Please visit the ePROS website for more information.
Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS) Networks
The Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS) Network is the national practice-based research network of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The mission of PROS is to improve the health of children and enhance primary care practice by conducting national collaborative practice-based research. The Office of Epidemiology and Research, Division of Research has supported the PROS Network since 1990.
MCHB grant # UA6MC15585 National Research Network To Improve Child Health.
Please visit the PROS website for more information.
Competitions for the Research Networks do not happen annually. Information about open Research Network Competitions is published on the Office of Epidemiology and Research, Division of Research website when it is available. You may also join the MCH Research Listserv if you wish to receive alerts about open competitions when they become available.